Clover-buncher.



No. 747,469. PATENTED DEG.'22, 1903 A. R. NICHOLAS.

CLOVER BUNGHER. APPLICATION FILED- gAn. 21. 1902.

H0 MODEL.

WITNESSES 3 IN VENTOI? ib raA'amRHJVz'cZOZQS,

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' at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and rows from the dotted line 4 4 in Fig. 2 and- UNITED STATES Patented December 22, 1903.

P TENT O FICE.

CLOVEJR-IQBUNCHER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of LetterslPatent No. 747,469, dated December 22, 1903.

Application filed January 21, 1902. Serial No. 90.699. (No model.)

To all whom it may concerrt: I I

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM R. NICHO LAS, a citizen of the United States, residing State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clover-Bunchers, of which the following is a specification. 1 I

The object of mypresent invention is to produce-a simple and inexpensive formof that variety of attachments to mowing-ma chines which are commonly denominated clover-bunchers and which shall possess certain advantages of construction and operation, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed .1

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mowing-machine having attached thereto a clover-buncher embodying the features of my present invention; Fig. 2, a top or plan view of the clover-buncher separately, the

central portion being broken away to save room; Fig. 3, a side elevation of said cloverbuncher,broken awaysomewhat at one corner; and Fig. 4, a detailsectional view as seen when looking in the direction indicated by the arshowing the inner side of the gate in elevation.

The mowing-machine and the lower part of the clover-buncher, composed of the crossbar 10 and the rearwardly-extending slats 11, are substantiallythe same as those in common use and such as are illustrated, for example, in the Boyer patents, of which No. 586,114, dated July 13, 1897, is an example.

At the extreme sides of the machine,.at the ends of the bar 10, I provide frame parts for carrying the side-boards and gate, which frame parts have as main members short bars- 30 and 31, (being substantially short slats,) extending rearwardly in the general direction of inclination of the sides of the cloverbuncher and which in the construction shown are rigidly completed by means of braces 32 and 33. These frame parts thus'made extendback far enough to completely clear the adjacent parts of the mowing-machine, so that the side-boards can be hinged thereto without in any Wise interfering with any part of the machine or mechanism. Secured to i The gate 16 is hinged to the side-boards l2 and 13 by means of arms 17 and 18, which extend back to suitable pivots 19 and 20. Said armswhen the gate is at rest should extend substantially horizontally, as best shown in Fig. 3, and are supported by clips 21 and 22 on the side-boards l2 and 13. Said clips are bracket-like in form, however, and do not prevent the arms and the gate carried thereby from being raised independently of the side-boards unless otherwise fastened thereto. When, however, it is desired to raise the gate and side-boards together, they may be fastened together by inserting suitable bolts through perforations 23, which extend through the arms, clips, and side-boards, as will be readily understood by an examination of Fig. 3. The means for raising the gate consists of a rope 25, which is attached to the gate at about its middle and runs thence through a sheave 26, carried by an arm 27, which in turn is preferably mounted on the tongue of the mowing-machine, and said rope runs thence back to a point convenient to the driver.

In operation the clover or other growth is cut by the mowing-machine and passes back onto the slats of the bun cher in a well-known manner. When a sufficient amount has been accumulated,the driver pulls on the rope, lifting the gate, and the bunch. of clover is thus permitted to escape. If desired, as above stated, the gate and sides can be held together. Then the gate and sides can be raised together, permitting a freer-egress or discharge,which is sometimes desirable in heavy growth.

I prefer to arm the lower sides of the gate 16 with teeth 28, andthese I form by bending a wire back and forth in loops, as shown in Fig. 4, and secure the same to the gate by screws or staples.

Having thus fully described my said inven tion, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a clover-buncher, of a platform consisting of a cross-bar and slats secured rigidly to and extending rearwardly from said cross-bar, frame parts secured to the ends of said cross-bar and extending back to clear the adjacent parts of the finger-bar, side-boards independent of the slats hinged to said frame parts, a gate hinged to said side-boards, and a cord running from said gate to a position near the driver whereby the gate may be raised.

- 2. The combination, in a clover-buncher, of a platform consisting of a cross-bar and slats extending rearwardly from said crossbar, frame parts rigidly secured to the extreme ends of said cross-bar, side-boards independent of the slats and hinged to said frame parts, a gate extending across the rear of the slats, arms secured to said gate and extending forward along the side-boards, and pivots by which said arms are connected to said side-boards.

3. The combination, in a clover-buncher, ofa platform consisting of a cross-bar and slats extending rearwardly from said crossbar, frame parts secured at the extreme sides of the platform structure, side-boards hinged to said frame parts, a gate, arms secured to said gate and extending forward and pivoted to the side-boards, and clips secured to said side-boards and forming rests for said arms whereby said gate is prevented from dropping below the predetermined point.

4. The combination, in a clover-buncher, of the cross-bar, slats extending rearwardly from said cross-bar, frame parts secured at the ends of said cross-bar, side-boards hinged to said frame parts, a gate, arms on said gate extending forward and pivoted to the said side-boards, clips on said side-boards supporting said arms, and detachable means whereby said arms and said side-boards may be rigidly connected, whereby the gate is adapted to be raised independently or the gate and side-boards raised together, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 16th day of January, A.'D. 1902.

ABRAHAM R. NICHOLAS. [n s] Witnesses:

CHESTER BRADFORD, ALBERT F. ZEARING. 

